Articles by Onyekachi Osuji

‘Anthem’ is a novella stylishly written with many themes and symbols that make it as relevant today as it was decades ago. It is an interesting work by the controversial Ayn Rand.

‘Anthem’ by Ayn Rand is a short read but with lots of things to take away by readers. It has its mix of relish and controversies but is definitely worth the read.

The historical context of ‘Anthem’ by Ayn Rand fuses both fiction and reality. Although set in an imaginary dystopian state, many of its features are similar to the reality of the time.

Ayn Rand expressed part of her personal philosophy called Objectivism in ‘Anthem’ through the words of the protagonist, Equality 7-2521.

An interesting feature of the characters in ‘Anthem’ by Ayn Rand is the naming pattern. The names of the characters play a major role in depicting the societal construct of the City in which the story is set. In the midst of an extreme uniformity enforced by the authorities, some individual differences peek through in the characters.

The story of ‘Anthem’ by Ayn Rand is about a young man who realizes his potential and learns to fully embrace his individuality as he makes an invention. This invention challenges the stifling collectivism of the City of his birth and puts his life in danger which forces him to flee from the City.